The Jakarta Post, JAKARTA
Leaders of all 38 political parties contesting the April 9 elections will gather at the Jakarta International Expo (PRJ) in Kemayoran on Monday to declare their commitment to peaceful campaign rallies ahead of the polls.
The gathering, organized by the General Elections Commission (KPU), will mark the start of the 20-day campaign period nationwide for the parties from March 16.
The season will end on April 5, four days before the polls.
"During this event, all the parties will state their pledge to stage campaign rallies peacefully during the period. We hope the campaign season will be peaceful and safe," KPU member Sri Nuryanti said Saturday.
Representatives from the 38 parties have been invited to attend the four-hour forum that begins at around 9 a.m. Each party leader will be given a chance to make a short speech about peaceful campaigns.
"Each party is allowed to bring 50 supporters to the event," Sri said.
She added that in Jakarta, parties would begin campaigning on Tuesday.
During the campaign period, three to four parties will stage public rallies each day in each province across the country.
"The only exception is Bali, because there are many religious holidays in the Hindu-majority province," KPU member Lukmansjah told The Jakarta Post.
In the resort island, an average of five to six parties will hold rallies each day during the season.
"We'll try to make it fair for every party," Lukmansjah said.
He added the KPU had distributed campaign schedules to all parties and had given out election leaflets to the public at large.
"[The campaign schedules] can also be downloaded from our website [www.kpu.go.id]," he said.
The KPU has also ordered parties to coordinate with the police to help ensure security during their rallies.
Parties must also notify the police of their campaign venues, to allow the latter to prepare routes for supporters going to the locations, and to adjust traffic conditions accordingly.
During the campaign season, the Cabinet is expected to be deserted, with many ministers traveling outside Jakarta to campaign for their respective parties.
At least 10 Cabinet ministers have been granted leave to campaign. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla have arranged their own schedules to attend campaign rallies across the country.
"We ask all state officials attending such election campaign rallies to obey state rules on their duties," Sri Nuryanti said. (naf)
